Inspired by the enchanting narratives of fables and the evocative verses of a Serbian folktale or poem,‘Čardak ni na nebu ni na zemlji‘, this exhibition takes a deep dive into the subconscious mind, where memories, feelings, encounters, and experiences intertwine, creating allegorical tales that resonate with the realities of post-colonial existence.
As the narratives of my paintings unfold, I am confronted with reflections on the human condition. Through interactions and symbolic gestures, themes of violence, rejection, and the deep-seated longing for both freedom and belonging, the queer ethos emerges as a beacon of resilience and defiance.
Amidst this struggle for total liberation and celebration of oneself, the paradoxical nature of belonging and displacement becomes apparent—the familiar tropes of childhood fables morph into symbolic scenes of inner conflict and resilience, offering a visceral reminder of the internal struggles we face in a world dictated by social constructs.
How did you choose such an interesting title?
I came to the title after finishing all the work. The story is a classic fairytale with dragons, kings, knights, and princesses, but there is violence to it. The inside of the story is a lot about beauty as well; it fits perfectly with what I wanted to show in the exhibition. The title was my eureka moment of realizing and pointing out it, as it shows my concept so well.
Your previous works were mainly in the form of a soft sculpture; in this show, we are still seeing this constant in your work through the installation of curtains and the fish/mace sculpture. How did the process of “merging” those works with paintings in the space look?
This is my “painting-focused” exhibition, but I still wanted to join it with my previous practice, which was mainly based on soft sculpture. The sketches were initially made for paintings, but then I realized that they would work better as objects. The decision was also made in relation to space and how I could spread the message of the piece most effectively. The actual fabrication made a lot more sense; it is a lot about this humor of it being a weapon, but made in soft material—also this aspect of it that is a fish portrait inside of the object. The camp and humor are important sides of it all. The mix of hard and soft very well portrays this idea of the opposition of violence and love or purity, which is a message in the tale I was so inspired by.
The contrast in the colors you are using and the fashion accessorizing of the painting (canvas); also the way you close the curtains with the belts—then there is a lot of jewelry, so the fashion accessories are highlighted throughout the show. The symbols in the exhibitions are pretty transparent and loud, such as animals, which we could see basically in every way. They are often presented in sad or violent positions but also peaceful ones; they present beauty in the traditional sense but also anger and anxiety. There is a contrast and tension between the opposites of the character depiction. I feel that a lot of the paintings are also kind of self-portraits, am I right?
There are clear reference points on the fashion aspects of the show; some of the paintings are indeed self-portraits; the swan and the ostrich are self-portraits; and other ones are allegorical tales of society and class struggles. As a queer person and as an artist, I tried to portray the struggles behind my placement in my journey. I was turning my experience into an allegorical fairy tale.
Interestingly, you are portraying human experiences through animal bodies; are we going to see in your future works these animal personas still illustrate your ideas and are the main characters of your stories?
Yes, definitely, this animal aspect is going to be there. The narrative is very important to me, as is the theater, even in the painting, and the theatricality of it all.
Exhibition: Jovan Glušica – Castle Neither in Heaven nor on the Earth
Exhibition dates: 11-21 April 2024
Location: Bräuhausgasse 31, 1050 Vienna, Austria
LNR Interview with Jovan Glušica (December 2023)
Jovan Glušica – www.instagram.com/gluesica/
Jovan Glušica (they/them) is a Serbian artist, stylist, and make-up artist, currently working in Vienna. Before studying Contextual Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, they studied Stage Design at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, Serbia. In their artistic practice, Jovan explores themes such as queerness, migrant identity, and the challenges of the working class at the intersection of fine art, scenography, and fashion.
